Distributing-box for electric wires



(No Model.)

J P. MARTIN.

DISTRIBUTING BOX FOR ELECTRIC WIRES.

No. 286,949. Patented Oct. 16, 1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. MARTIN, OF CHICAGO, lliLlNOlS.

DISTRIBUTING-BOX FOR ELECTRIC WIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 286,949, dated October 16, 1883.

Application filed March 30,1853.

T0 (I/ZZ whom it TH/(I/Z/ concern:

Be it known that I, JOHX F. DIARTIN, a

citizen of the United States, residing in Chicage, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvcnted certain new and useful I1nprovements in Distributing-Boxes for Electric lVires, of which the following is a specification. I

This inventi on re] ates to elevated distribnters for electric wires which are laid underground through the streets of city, and at certain points along the main or branch lines carried above the surface of the earth to distributers, from whence they are conducted to the various buildings or other points to be supplied.

The object of my invention is to provide improved means whereby an operator can at any time readily ascend to the elevated distributing-box for the purpose of laying, taking out, inspecting, or repairing the wires; also, to utilize the devices employed for permitting the operator to climb up to the elevated distributing-box as a means for bracing the vertical pipes through which the wires areconducted from the ground up to the distributers; also, to provide improved means whereby the elevated distributor is supported, and the wires conducted from the ground to the same. These objects I attain by means of the devices hereinafter fully described, and illustrated in the annexed drawings, in which Figure 1 is perspective view of the distributing-box with the means for supporting and conducting the wires to the box, and for permitting ready access to be had to the same. Fig. 2 is a like view, with a slightly-different arrangement of devices for permitting an operator to ascend to and descend from the distributing-box. Fig. 3 represents a horizontal. section taken through Fig. 1 on a plane below the distributing-box. Fig. etis a like view taken through Fig. 2.

Referring by letter to the several figures of the drawings, in which likefletters denote like parts, A indicates the distributing-box, fixed upon a vertical support, B. This support, which. can consist 01' a wooden pole or of a solid or hollow metal post, can. be set directly in the grouml, or be secured at its basein any [X0 model.)

suitably-constrnctcd ioundation. It is proposed to locate said support and. box within an alley-way running from a street through which a conduit for electric wires is laid, and to extend a branch pipe from such conduit to the base of the support, where it will connect with any suitable box or trap for allowing wires from the main to be drawn through the pipe in the alleyway. The wires will be run up from said trap to the distributing box through the vertical. pipes C, which are arranged alongside ot' the support. These pipes J connect the distributing-box with thetraps or branch pipe at the footof the standard, and are held in rigid connection with each other and with the standard by means of devices, which, while serving to brace the pipes, also serve as a ladder or steps for allowing an operator to easily climb up to the distributingbox. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the pipes run along opposite sides of the standard, and are embraced at intervals by straps D, which are bent so as to closely embrace both the standard and the pipes. The straps are arranged in pairs, with their ends bent out wardly and firmly bolted together. At one side of the standard the ends D of the straps thus secured together project laterally therefrom to an extent suliieient to render them capable of being utilized as the rounds of a ladder. The bolts E hold the straps firmly upon the pipes and the standard, and prevent them from slipping, although, if desired, auxiliary fastening devices could be employed. lnFigs. 2 and elthe pipes for the wires are arranged in a vertical plane at one side oi the standard.

The metallic straps or hands D, which are bent so as to embrace the pipes, are made in U shape, and have their ends fitted against wooden or metal blocks F, arranged at intcrvals between the pipes. The ends of these blocks are concaved, so as to fit the pipes, and the straps are secured to the blocks by means of bolts Fl. These blocks take the place of the projections D in Fig. 1, and also serve as the rounds of the ladder. In order to further brace and support the blocks or rounds, one or more rods or bolts, G, are secured to the blocks and to the standard, the bolts prcl'crably passing through the standard and the blocks, and being provided with tighteningnuts H. jVhen thepipes are arranged against opposite sides-of the standard, as in Fig. 1, a portion of the standard should be secured in the back of the box, as indicated at the point I, so that the pipes shall enter the box between its rear and front walls; but when the pipes set out from the standard, as in Fig. 2, such arrangement will not be rendered necessary.

K indicates brackets for supporting a shelf, L, upon which the box is seated, and which may or may not constitute the bottom proper of the box. This shelf will be found convenient for holding the tools of an operator engaged in manipulating the wires. The distributing-box has a door, M, by means of which access can be had to its interior. It is also provided with bent spouts N for the wires, and with insulators Q, to which the wires passing through the spout are secured. The wires can be carried from the box to any or all of the houses in a square in which the box is located, and for convenience the box will preferably be located at or about the middle of the alleyway. It is further proposed to employ insu-' lating-tubes and flexible tubular couplings for the wires within the pipe when desired in the main, as set forth in prior applications which I-have filed for Letters Patent of the United States; or the wires can, if preferred, be insulated in any other suitable way. At the top of the box I provide a short fiue, P, provided with a suitable chimney-cap, so as to prevent rain or snow from entering the box. Space is left around the insulated wires within the pipe 0, so that the pipes, box, and their top flues practically constitute chimneys,through which an upward draft iscreated, and hence a circulation of air is caused around the insulated wires, so as to keep the same dry.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The combination, with an elevated distributing-box for electric wires and the sup porting devices, of binding-straps having projecting ends, which serve as steps for enabling an operator to ascend to the box, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with an elevated distributing-box for electric wires, supported up 011 a standard, of the pipes located alongside of the standard, and devices which connect the pipes with the standard and afford steps from the ground to the box, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the standard of an elevated distributing-box for electric wires and the pipe running alongside the standard, of the straps secured to the pipe and standard and projecting laterally from the latter to form steps, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the distributingbox and its supporting-standard, of the pipes through which the wires pass to the box, and the bent straps D, embracing the pipes and the standard and bolted together, said straps having their ends extended out from the standard, so as to form steps, substantially as described.

JOHN F. MARTIN Witnesses:

W. W. ELLIOTT, CHAS. G. PAGE. 

